Posted by August 11, 2015 Amsterdam Day 1
The ship is moored just a little ways from the Central Station. We have been warned about pickpockets so I have money and passport hidden away.
I bought a 24 hour card that is good on all buses and trams. I took the #5 tram out to the Riksmuseum arriving about 9:30am. I had bought a e-ticket before leaving home so I was able to quickly get into the museum. The museum is well laid out and has many fine pieces of art.
After going back to the ship for lunch, I took a tram to the Van Gogh museum. I had bought a e-ticket for 2pm. The line for people waiting to buy tickets was very long. Those of us with timed tickets could walk right in. Unfortunately the museum was so crowded that it was hard to see any of the paintings. Also, the majority of the paintings were not Van Gogh’s. I left 1/2 hour after I got in. I walked 1/2 way back to the ship taking photos of interesting buildings and canals. I found that there is a Tesla dealership here.
I went back to the ship and had an early dinner. Some of us on cruisecritic.com had booked a Candlelight Wine Canal Cruise for 9pm. It was really nice. We cruised the canals for 2 hours.
Elsie's Travel Blog 
Elsie,
Thoroughly enjoying your blog.
Amsterdam is a wonderful city. We have been to Van Gogh 2 x. First time was great, we could view and access all paintings. It could be because it was the month of November.
The next time (April), was just as you described and we left early…way too crowded. Right now there is an exhibit of 50 Van Gogh landscapes at the Clark Institute in Williamstown, MA along with Whistler’s Mother.. About an hours drive from us. We plan to go before it’s over.
The Rijk was lovely and not overwhelming.
I didn’t realize all the water and canals in Amsterdam so that was a pleasant surprise.
Looking forward to your next post.🚢🌏
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Sounds like you are having a good time. I was waiting for Amsterdam. We were planning on going to the Van Gogh and not the Riksmuseum. I might have to rethink that.
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Great pictures. We loved Amsterdam and all the canals. Great to be docked so close to everything. We will be going out of Rotterdam next year, so won’t see Amsterdam.Have a great return trip!
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Your TA is Cruise specialists? Would you recommend? Your trip sounds terrific and I love your pics.
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Thanks for all the images, Elsie. Looks like a lot of the weather has been depressing, but the scenery, buildings, and your descriptions have brightened the journey. Hope the experience of the Van Gogh museum doesn’t translate to a metaphor for other places — imagine bathrooms with no T.P.; pubs with no alcoholic beverages; restaurants with long lines and only two offerings on the menu: kippered herring and liver! Man overboard!!
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Great visit! We did Amsterdam and got separated when the tram/street car took off. But we just started walking down the track toward each other. We loved Rijks both times. Back in 1980, I think Rembrandt’s Nightwatch was still enclosed in glass. Not too long after it had been vandalized. We did a lovely canal ride on the Hilda. Sorry about the Van Gogh. We visited it in 1980 w/ my parents.
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